There are three Negro League shortstops that are mentioned when discussing the greatest of all-time: Pop Lloyd and Willie Wells, both Hall of Famers, and the underrated Dick Lundy; Lundy may have been the best defensive shortstop of the three, with the best arm, though he didn’t quite have the power of Lloyd or Wells.

Lundy started his career with his local Duval Giants (of Jacksonville) and Jacksonville Red Caps before signing in 1920 with the powerful Atlantic City Bacharachs; he actually signed with three teams that year and a court had to rule where he would play. He was so impressive during his rookie season in the black big time that he was named player-manager the next season at age 23 and he batted .484 in league games.

Lundy stayed with Atlantic City for many years, and led them to the Negro League World Series in 1926 and ’27. In the ’26 series, Lundy batted over .300 with six stolen bases in a losing cause against the Chicago American Giants, and in ’27 he batted .250 as Atlantic City again lost to Chicago.

In 1929, Lundy played with the Baltimore Black Sox as the shortstop of what was called “The Million Dollar Infield” along with third baseman Oliver Marcelle, second baseman Frank Warfield and first baseman Jud Wilson.

After a several seasons with teams such as the Newark Dodgers, Philadelphia Stars and the New York Cubans, Lundy became player-manager of the Newark Eagles where he mentored Willie Wells and Ray Dandridge, two of the greatest infielders ever.

Though Lundy was known as a class act, as a manager with the Eagles he once argued with an umpire so vehemently that the ump, a former professional football player, knocked Lundy out cold with a single punch.

In 1933, Lundy, representing the Philadelphia Stars, was named the starting shortstop for the East in the first East-West All-Star game, though he went 0 for 4 against Willie Foster who went the distance in a West victory.

In 1934, Lundy again played in the East-West Game, this time representing the Newark Dodgers, though he again took the collar, going hitless against Ted Trent, Willie Foster and Chet Brewer.

After retiring from baseball, Lundy retired to his hometown of Jacksonville where he died in 1965.